Immunology of the Lung

Question 1

How do lungs discriminate harmful and harmless material?

Answer 1

Presence or absence of PAMPs

Question 2

Which immune cell is most common in lung?

Answer 2

Macrophage

Question 3

Which cell promotes anti-inflammatory state in absence of PAMPs?

Answer 3

Macrophages through SIRP-alpha signaling from non-opsonized SP-A and D (collectins)

Question 4

What are alternatively activated macrophages?

Answer 4

Macrophages activated by IL-4 or 13 instead of normal TNFa or IFNg. Produces granulomas or fibrosis which are harmful.

Question 5

Major APC in the lung?

Answer 5

Dendritic Cells

Question 6

Effects of smoking?

Answer 6

More macrophages in lungs.

Typically 2:1 CD4:CD8

Question 7

Effects of alcoholism?

Answer 7

Reduced mucociliary clearance, impaired immune cells and epithelia

Question 8

3 Mechanisms of Defense

Answer 8

Branching Airways (particles don't reach alveoli)
Mucociliary Clearance (cough)
Alveolar Clearance (macrophages)

Question 9

Kartagener’s Syndrome

Answer 9

Situs Inversus, Chronic Sinusitis, and Bronchiectasis

All from ciliary dyskinesia